Improvement in travelers for vessels



UNITED STATES 1 DAVID N. B. COFFIN, JR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRAVELERS FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,969, dated October 17, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID N. B. GOFFIN, JR., of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Rigging for fore-and-ait-rigged sailing vesselsan Improved Traveler or Sheet-Holderof which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to the construction of the traveler with a sliding, not a stationary, traveler-rod, and so applying the elastic or spring element, which of itself is not new, as to control the movement or sliding and stopping of the rod, so providing for not only the elastic or cushioned holding of the sheet, but for free travel, also, upon the traveler-rod; thus combining the advantages of the old stationary traveler-rod with those of the more modern, but also stationary rods, provided with cushioned shackles and other advantages.

Figure 1 shows a plan of the improved traveler as bolted down to the deck. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, looking fore and aft. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, looking athwart ship.

The sliding rod a is guided in the bearings 1). Between the bearing 1), Fig. l, and a nut and washer or other head, (I, on the ends of rod to, are placed springs c, of rubber or other elastic material, and upon rod (4 is placed the ring or shackle c. The shackle plays freely from p to p on the rod a not being obstructed in its travel by springs or otherwise; but on reaching 1) or p it begins gradually to come upon the curve of rod a, by which means it begins to draw upon the rod (1, and to compress one of the springs c, which action continues till the friction and the resistance of spring 0 overcomes the force acting cillate.

upon shackle e and causes it to stop. When the force ceases the rod to returns by the action of the spring 0, previously compressed, until it meets an equal resistance from the other spring 0. The guards r r prevent the rod a from falling down, while they allow it sufficiently to 0s The supports b b are secured to the deck of the vessel or to the rail by screw-bolts, or otherwise. The sheet or tackle by which the boom and sail are controlled in tacking the vessel or jibin g over is connected to the shackle or ring 6; or its lower eye is slipped on the traveler-rod directly, without the intervention of a shackle.

I am aware that the use of a sliding travelerrod, encircled by stationary springs at each end, and to which the sheet-block was connected by means of a shackle permanently fixed on the travelerrod, has been heretofore proposed. I am also aware that in the ordinary stationary traveler-rods the sheet-block has free play from end to end of the rod. I therefore do not propose to claim, broadly, either a sliding spring travelerrod, or a traveler-rod on which the sheet-block may play from end to end; but what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The sliding traveler-rod a, bent at each end, as set forth, in combination with the supports 1) r, springs c, and sliding ring 6 or its equivalent, for the attachment of the sheet-block, operating substantially as specified.

. DAVID N. B. OOFFIN, JR.

Witnesses LYSANDER BURNETT,

O. E. Honsnon. (138) 

